Reflecting on 2020, Planning for 2021

It’s the time of year where we reflect on the year that’s been and start planning for the coming year. When I reflect on 2020 although there’s always more I could have done, I have achieved a lot.

At this time of the year I often use some questions to reflect on the year that’s been and to think about and plan for the coming year. In the past couple of years I’ve used these 20 Questions from Tsh Oxenrider or these 100 personal end of the year personal reflection and review questions from It’s All You Boo. So I’ll use some of these reflection questions over the next few days. There are also many more ideas for reflecting on the past year.

What I Achieved in 2020

Let’s have a look at what I’ve achieved in 2020:

What I’ve Achieved in 2020 in Blogging

Posts

• Published 37 posts on this blog (was aiming for 1 a week so didn’t quite achieve that)
• Wrote 4 post for the MOPS Australia Blog
• Published many posts on the Feed My Family Facebook page – Some months I was more productive than others.

Emails

• Grew my email list by 1/3.
• Sent 20 Feed My Family Four Newsletters
• Sent 10 emails as part of my Bible Journaling series
• Sent 8 emails about Faith Resources or promoting other things such as my Mothers’ and Others’ cookbook
• Upgraded my blog email to use G Suite – You can contact me at info@feedmyfamilyblog.com

Networking

Due to COVID-19 networking in person didn’t happen much this year but I have done some networking.

• Attended 1 in person WordPress Meetup
• Attended 1 online WordPress Meetup
• Attended 1 online Networking session put on by someone else
• Attended a number of UCA Children & Families or Integenerate networking Zoom sessions
• Been more active on a few Facebook groups that I’m part of

What I’ve Achieved for My Business in 2020

Products

• Added all my products to WooCommerce on the shop on my website
• Developed LiFE Packs for Feb – Dec
• Developed a free recipe booklet as a taster for my recipe book
• Created and launched Mothers’ and Others’: Recipes from the Heart ebook and printed recipe book
• Had a Display Booth at 1 Conference & a Presbytery Meeting – sold products and promoted

Speaking

• Led workshops at 1 Conference
• Led my first Family Faith Workshop (with parents and kids together)
• Spoke in person at 1 Presbytery Meeting and displayed & sold products
• Spoke on 2 Zoom meetings for different presbyteries
• Hosted by first webinar – Advent Parent Workshop (was very happy to have attendees at both sessions I ran)

Learning

• Completed the Spark Effect Academy – Was 8 weeks when I did it, it’s now 6 weeks
• Completed 8 weeks of Spark Effect VIP Coaching
• Officially completed my Period of Discernment which affirmed the approach I’m taking

Contracts

• Admin for AMPLIFY Conference 2020 (approx 1 day per week for 4 months)
• Moreton Rivers Presbytery Day Camp, Intergerational & Faith At Home Coordinator (1 day per week) – since March

Moreton Rivers Presbytery Role

• Started the role expecting to coordinate an in-person Day Camp as we have for many years but ended up coordinating Day Camp at Home – which had online elements and packs for families to use at home.
• Steep learning curve to host zoom and use breakout rooms with kids
• Attended Intergenerate Online Conference
• Ran 4 zoom sessions to share some of the Intergenerate Conference content with others
• Recorded a session about Using Children’s Literature in Ministry
• Set up Choose Your Own ADVENTure – a collection of resources for churches and households to use
• Collated resources for Lent/Easter 2021

What I’ve Achieved Volunteering in 2020

• 12+ Kids Hope Mentoring Sessions (No mentoring at all in term 2 due to COVID-19)
• Coordinating 12 Playgroup Days (again none in term 2 due to COVID-19)
• Responded to a number of Playgroup emails
• Attended 2 EEC Meetings
• One of the Admins for UCA Children and Families Ministry Facebook Page
• 4 MOPS planning meetings
• MOPS Kids Coordinator at 5 MOPS Meetings (COVID-19 stopped normal meetings for terms 2 & 3)
• Attended 4 MOPS play in the park sessions
• Attended 2 MOPS Zoom sessions
• Attended MOPS training day & Theme Launch Zoom sessions
• Attended 20+ Cuppa & Suppers (all but the 1st 3 were on Zoom)
• Attended 6/7 Church Council Meetings (all but the 1st one was on Zoom)
• Led a number of children’s talks, prayers etc during worship (mainly on Zoom)
• Helped host a number of Zoom services for church (currently doing this every week since we’ve having worship face to face or on zoom)

What I’ve Achieved Personally in 2020

• Celebrated a number of birthdays and other celebrations
• Watched my online Graduation Ceremony for my Graduate Certificate in Children & Families Ministry
• Created a video of messages for our sons birthday during lock down
• Said Good Bye to our daughter who moved to Victoria whilst they were in lock down
• Celebrated 1st Christmas with our daughter away from home
• Approx 40 Bible Studies across 2 Bible Study groups (the majority of those on zoom)
• 20ish prayer meetings with my friend, many on the phone but some in person
• A number of coffee/meal catch-ups with various people
• 50+ grocery shops
• Approx 46 EGG orders
• 50+ biscuits/cakes/slices baked
• Meals made almost everyday
• Approx 260 loads of laundry
• Housework – not my biggest priority but it still needs to be done
• 48+ coin hikes by myself
• 120+ coin hikes or walks with my husband (since he’s been working from home and we recovered from an operation & a broken toe we’ve been regularly walking in the morning or afternoon)
• 25+ walks with a women’s walking group I joined (mainly 1 other lady & myself)
• Finished reading 71 books

It’s great to go through and reflect on what I have achieved. It’s so easy to think about everything that hasn’t gotten done but I have achieved a lot.

The thing that I’m proudest of achieving is launching my cookbook. I’ve also been walking much more consistently this year. I was amazed at how many books I read this year. Reading most mornings has helped with that total.

What I’m Planning for 2021

Hopefully I’ll be able to do some more in-person speaking or workshops. I’m already booked in for AMPLIFY 2021. Though I also plan on doing more webinars or videos. I’m going to create more general LiFE Packs rather than monthly ones. Currently contemplating how I can do a parenting Facebook group or membership. A Family Faith Practices book is drafted so I want to work on getting that published.

At this stage I plan on continuing my volunteer work with Playgroup & MOPS etc.

Walking will continue to be my main form of exercise. I also plan on continuing my morning routine which involves writing, reading & devotions.

What are you proud of achieving this year?

What are you planning for 2021?